Eco-Road Trip – Valverde Commons
Valverde Commons Community – Summary:
- Who: James Ludden
- What: Visited the Valverde Commons Community
- When: Monday, April 9
- Where: Taos, NM
Quick Resources:
My Route:
Planning my Eco-Inspired Road Trip Blog Post
My Travel Story:
After the The Greater World Earthship Community, I traveled to the other side of Taos to visit Valverde Commons.
“Valverde Commons was conceived as an active adult CoHousing community in 2006 and developed from pastureland starting in 2011. Currently there are 22 energy efficient houses with 6 additional ones expected by 2023. Thirty four people live in the community as of 2018. The community is located in the heart of Taos, New Mexico and a short walk from the historic Taos Plaza.
The individual homes are clustered on 10 acres surrounding an almost 4 acre common green space, plus an adjacent 10 acre park with walking paths and gardens.
Our beautiful common house has a full kitchen, large meeting room, library, and laundry facilities. It is frequently used for group dining, parties, meetings, classes, and entertainment. The common house has rooftop solar energy to promote sustainability. We also have a barn building for communal garden tools, tractor, and garden carts. The barn also includes a complete professional wood working shop and other studio facilities.” – Valverde Commons FIC Profile (more…)
Eco-Road Trip – Meow Wolf
Meow Wolf – Summary:
- Who: N/A
- What: Had my mind-blown at Meow Wolf
- When: Monday, April 9
- Where: Santa Fe, NM
Quick Resources:
- Meow Wolf Santa Fe Webpage
- Meow Wolf Santa Fe Facebook Page
- Inside M.W., the amusement park for people who want a weirder Disneyland – ARSTechnica
My Route:
Planning my Eco-Inspired Road Trip Blog Post
My Travel Story:
I left Valverde Commons late in the afternoon, with enough time to get back to the Commons on the Alameda and eat dinner with the community – OR – check out Meow Wolf, an interactive art exhibit, which I stumbled across the day before. (I didn’t regret my choice!)
“Meow Wolf is a Santa Fe, New Mexico based arts and entertainment group that established in 2008 as an art collective and is rapidly growing into a leader in the immersive art world. (more…)
Eco-Road Trip – Earthship Community
Earthship Community & Taos Mesa Brewery – Summary:
- Who: N/A
- What: Stopped at the Taos Mesa Brewery for directions; Visited the Rio Grande Gorge National Park; Toured and explored the Earthship Community
- When: Monday, April 9
- Where: Taos; NM
Quick Resources:
- Earthsip Biotecture Webpage
- The Greater World Earthship Community Webpage FIC Profile
- The Greater World Earthship Community Facebook Page
- Mike Reynolds – Wikipedia Page
- Taos Mesa Brewing Webpage
- Taos Mesa Brewing Facebook Page
My Route:
Planning my Eco-Inspired Road Trip Blog Post
My Travel Story:
After driving through the forested high mountains of New Mexico coming from the Hummingbird Community, I traveled through the desert prairie plains to The Greater World Earthship Community.
Eco-Road Trip – Hummingbird Community
Hummingbird Community – Summary:
- Who: Rich Ruster
- What: Visited and toured the Hummingbird Community
- When: Monday, April 9
- Where: Cleveland, NM
Quick Resources:
- Hummingbird Community Webpage
- Hummingbird Community Facebook Page
- Hummingbird Community FIC Profile
- Hummingbird Community NuMundo Profile
- Gaia Education Webpage
My Route:
Planning my Eco-Inspired Road Trip Blog Post
My Travel Story:
I left the Commons on the Alameda that morning and drove into the high mountains of New Mexico to visit the Hummingbird Community, also known as the Hummingbird Transformational Living Center.
“Nestled in a valley among the Aspens, Cottonwoods, and Ponderosa Pines in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of northern New Mexico, rests a 500-acre ranch that is home to a 20-person residential Hummingbird Community. (more…)
Eco-Road Trip – City of the Sun Pt. 2
City of the Sun Pt. 2 – Summary:
- Who: Sheila Bjeletich
- What: Toured the City of the Sun in Columbus and met other residents; Drove to northern New Mexico through various cities; Arrived at The Commons on the Alameda
- When: Sunday, April 8
- Where: Columbus, NM; Hatch, NM; Santa Fe, NM
Quick Resources:
- City of the Sun FIC Profile
- City of the Sun Facebook Page
- Columbus New Mexico Webpage – COS Articles
- City of Hatch Webpage
- Rio Salado Sand Dunes Webpage
- The Commons on Alameda Webpage
My Route:
Planning my Eco-Inspired Road Trip Blog Post
My Travel Story:
The following morning in the City of the Sun, I woke up to the sounds of dozens of dove cooing above me, and flocks of desert quail running around under my hammock and in the gardens. So it was an interesting morning alarm.
We started the morning touring one of her neighbor’s homes, which was a round hand-built building, with a mermaid themed bathroom that was undergoing repairs because a storm and water damaged knocked down part of the wall.
Eco-Road Trip – City of the Sun Pt. 1
City of the Sun Pt. 1 & Mexico Bike Adventure – Summary:
- Who: Sheila Bjeletich; Juan Rascon
- What: Left the state of Arizona; Arrived at City of the Sun in Columbus, New Mexico; Biked across the Mexico border into Palomas to visit a host family and nonprofit; Biked back across the US border after the Mexico tour
- When: Saturday, April 7
- Where: Columbus, NM; Palomas, MX
Quick Resources:
- City of the Sun FIC Profile
- City of the Sun Facebook Page
- COS – Tiny House Talk Article
- Columbus New Mexico Webpage – COS Articles
- City of Palomas Mexico Webpage
- Border Partners Webpage
My Route:
Planning my Eco-Inspired Road Trip Blog Post
My Travel Story:
Leaving Arizona, I spent the day driving through the desert into New Mexico on my way to the City of the Sun in Columbus, New Mexico, with the aim of getting there in the middle of the afternoon so we could go into Mexico and checkout the nonprofit projects my host was involved with.
I arrived at the City of the Sun, which initially looked like a mobile home park up front – but as I drove towards the back of the community, there were less manufactured mobile homes and more alternative architecture structures, tiny homes and creative compounds. (more…)